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Liberty Bank Foundation

Liberty Bank Foundation

Established in 1997, Liberty Bank Foundation extends Liberty Bank’s long-standing commitment to strengthening the communities we’ve proudly served for over 200 years.

Grants

We support 501(c)(3) organizations whose work aligns with our funding priorities and creates meaningful local impact. We encourage applicants to review our Grant Guidelines to learn more about eligibility, focus areas, and the application process.

Our Focus Areas and Intended Impact

Our grantmaking is rooted in Liberty Bank’s mission to improve the lives of our customers, teammates, and communities for generations to come. Through the Foundation, we invest in nonprofit partners working to strengthen local communities and expand opportunity for the people and places we serve.

Our funding priorities focus on areas where community investment can create lasting, measurable impact:

  • Education, Workforce Readiness, and Support for Small Business: Supporting programs that help students and adults build the skills, confidence, and pathways needed for future success.
  • Affordable Housing: Supporting efforts that increase housing stability and help individuals and families access safe, affordable places to live.
  • Food Security: We offer a limited number of grants to support the primary food pantry or soup kitchen in communities where we operate. Our primary means for addressing food security is through our Liberty Bank Rotary Club Thanksgiving Drive. 

Across these focus areas, we look for clear community need, strong nonprofit partners, practical plans, and outcomes that help individuals and families become stronger, more stable, and better positioned for the future.

 

2027 Grant Opportunities

Local Impact Grants

Local Impact Grants offer smaller grants for short-term projects that can move quickly and make a clear community impact. These grants are designed to be simple, accessible, and responsive to nonprofit partners whose work aligns with our Foundation’s funding priorities.

Key Details

Cycle Application Deadline Funding Decision Timing
Spring 2027 February 1, 2027 Approximately four weeks after the application deadline
Fall 2027 September 1, 2027 Approximately four weeks after the application deadline

Typical awards range from $2,500 to $5,000.

The short online application will ask for:

  • Basic organizational information
  • Proof of nonprofit status, such as an IRS determination letter
  • A brief project description
  • A project or program budget

This grant is the best fit for short-term, clearly defined projects or programs with a practical plan and clear community benefit. Projects should generally be completed within 6–9 months.


Strategic Impact Grants

Nonprofits interested in Strategic Impact Grants should begin by completing a Letter of Interest (LOI). The LOI should provide a brief overview of the organization, the proposed project or initiative, the community need addressed, expected outcomes, alignment with the Foundation’s funding priorities, and the amount of funding requested.

Key Details

Cycle LOI Deadline LOI Decision Timing Full Proposal Application Deadline
Spring 2027 February 1, 2027 Approximately two weeks after the LOI deadline March 15, 2027
Fall 2027 September 1, 2027 Approximately two weeks after the LOI deadline October 15, 2027

Awards range from $10,000 to $25,000.

After each deadline, LOIs will be reviewed by the Foundation. Organizations whose requests align with Foundation priorities may be invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposal requirements will be shared directly with invited applicants.

Coming Soon: Request for Proposals (RFP)

Additional details about the 2027 RFP, including the application timeline, review process, and notification dates, will be shared in January 2027. Because the RFP counts toward the Foundation’s one funding request per organization per calendar year limit, organizations interested in the RFP should review the details before submitting a 2027 funding request.

Important Information for All Applicants

Organizations should carefully choose the grant opportunity that best fits their request. The Foundation will consider only one funding request per organization per calendar year. This annual limit applies across all Foundation grant opportunities, including Local Impact Grants, Strategic Impact Grants, and the 2027 RFP.

For Strategic Impact Grants, submitting an LOI counts as the organization’s funding request for the calendar year. Organizations not invited to submit a full proposal after LOI review may reapply the following calendar year.

Requests greater than $5,000 but less than $10,000 should be submitted through Local Impact Grants; however, awards generally will not exceed $5,000.

We are not accepting requests for capital campaigns at this time.

Applicants should review the Grant Guidelines before applying to confirm eligibility, funding priorities, and application requirements. Applications must be submitted through our Online Grants Portal to be considered.


Need a hand? We have volunteers!

Just ask. Let us know what kind of help your nonprofit, school, or civic group might need and we’ll see how we can work together. If your group is a nonprofit and based in a town Liberty Bank serves, we’ll be glad to make your volunteer opportunity known to our employees. Email us and let us know:

  • Type of project or event
  • Time, date, location
  • Number of volunteers needed
  • Types of work you need performed

If you seek an individual to serve on your board or committee, or need the assistance of someone with particular skills, we’ll also be happy to seek a Liberty Bank resource for you.

 

Our Impact

Liberty Bank Foundation’s generous support helps Boundless Literacy provide daily, small-group Structured Literacy instruction to children in underserved schools. The foundation's investment gives more students access to the skilled, consistent instruction they need to become confident, capable readers. Learning to read changes what is possible for children, and we are deeply grateful to Liberty Bank Foundation for investing in our community's children and their futures.

- Catherine Pamelard, Executive Director, Boundless Literacy